Shining World Compassion Award Recipient: Dog Assistance in Disability

Dog A.I.D. is a non-profit organization with volunteer trainers who teach canine companions of people with disabilities to perform helpful day-to-day tasks. Today, we are travelling to Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom, to meet the Chair of the Trustees of Dog A.I.D., Sandra Fraser. We also hear from Mike McDonald, who serves as Chief Executive Officer, in an interview conducted by our Association members from the UK. "Our mission is to help as many people as possible through the training of their own pet dogs to become assistance dogs, so that's all done with the help of volunteers. Dog A.I.D. works through the recruitment of volunteer trainers. The trainers are all professional dog trainers that we recruit. We then pair them with a disabled person who's got their own dog, the trainer goes to the home of that person and helps them train their own pet dog to become an assistance dog. It can take between six months to two years. And the trainer is in constant contact with that person, but that person learns how to train the dog themselves, so it gives them a great deal of self-satisfaction and also empowers them to carry on with their life in as much of a normal way as they possibly can." Touched by their volunteer work and selfless sacrifice in helping to transform companion dogs into disability assistants, our Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai gratefully presented Dog A.I.D with the Shining World Compassion Award. Our Association members from the United Kingdom organized an award presentation ceremony to honor Sandra Fraser and Mike McDonald of Dog A.I.D. “For providing canine warmth and loving care for those in need, and for developing the special gifts that animals bring humans, we hereby applaud and celebrate the great compassionate deeds of Dog A.I.D. May you and your loved ones be blessed with good health and continue to comfort humans and dogs in your loving way. With great honor, love and blessings in God's grace, Supreme Master Ching Hai.” In addition to the Award Letter, we also presented Dog A.I.D. with a crystalline plaque and loving contribution of US$15,000 from Master to support their compassionate work. "Thank You, Supreme Master Ching Hai, we are honored and delighted to receive this award on behalf of our supporters, our volunteers, our volunteer trainers, our clients and of course our wonderful dogs."